Icenhauer’s Cocktail Lounge, Austin, Texas

Icenhauer’s is located in a renovated house at 83 Rainey Street. Originally built in 1895 as a traditional “wing and gable” house, it remained a family residence until 2009. Over the years, it was owned by several different families and, unfortunately, had fallen into severe disrepair. But — like several other homes on the block — it now has a new life and purpose.

Named for the business owners, Icenhauer’s is located in the up and coming bar district of the city. The site contained a house built over 100 years ago, of which the front two rooms complete with original wood interior siding were saved and restored as a part of this new cocktail lounge. The existing gable roof of the house was maintained and modernised with ebony stained cedar siding.

Austin-based architect Michael Hsu Office of Architecture designed the Icenhauer’s project. Completed in 2010, the new cocktail bar is a fitting Austin destination. A little more modern, a little more clean cut, a little less come-as-you-are. The specialty cocktails have names like “The Kelsey” and “The Caroline.” But if you just want a beer, they have a pretty wide selection of that, too.